Chapter 1: The Destruction of the Four Olds
My grandfather's name is Guo Changchen, listen to my old man said, my grandfather's old man that generation, the Guo family had been brilliant, I have a great-grandfather had been successful, as Zhang Zhidong's disciple, more by the court at the time of the big dollar rewarded four treasures of the literary room, this should not be bragging about it, when I was a child, I have seen the production of the ink stone is very fine, but also played with it, just later realized that this may be a treasure when it is lost. But lost, I do not know was stolen, or by my grandmother who does not know a word to sell, to know some years ago, but there are a lot of streets to collect antiques, perhaps the old lady does not know what this is the stuff, on two dollars to sell it.
Guo family generations are single, my great-grandfather only my grandfather so a son, naturally pampered out of shape, but the family way down this time, not because of my grandfather, but because of my great-grandfather.
My great-grandfather's name was Guo Zhongyong, as I found in the family genealogy. As the saying goes, ‘Success comes from moderation, and failure also comes from moderation.’ My great-grandfather was able to become a disciple of Zhang Zhidong and was highly regarded, but this was not entirely due to his talent. During the late Qing dynasty, the court did not place much value on scholars who were merely proficient in the Eight-Legged Essay and relied solely on rote learning. This can be seen from the later Hundred Days' Reform and the frequent appearance of merchant scholars like Zhang Qian. At that time, the focus had shifted to evaluating an individual's abilities. Deadly reading was no longer in vogue.
My great-grandfather has a skill, in addition to reading the skills, that is, proficient in feng shui qimen zhunjia, it is because of this he was reused, of course, also because of this was later copied, almost all the family decapitated, the reason is that at that time when he was pointing out the house found a feng shui treasure, hiding people after three generations can be out of the emperors and prime ministers, that piece of graveyard is too expensive to be said, when he found the piece of graveyard after he didn't go to report to his mentor He was not to report to his mentor, but quietly buried the bones of his ancestors.
Who doesn't want to go one step further? Only later his housekeeper ratted out, not to Zhang Zhidong, but to the usual and my great-grandfather did not deal with people, but this is enough, my great-grandfather Guo Zhongyong, later for "disobedience" of the crime of decapitation.
Later I thought, my grandfather's death, in fact, there are a lot of strange places, because according to my father's statement, my grandfather that person, in addition to proficient in geomancy geomancy, on the Qi Men Dunjia ask the sky divining hexagrams are very proficient, do not leave the house basically know the future of things in the world, said it is very mysterious.
But such a person, how did not calculate that he did so will die?
At that time, my father gave me the saying is not as good as God's plan, this sentence young me did not understand, and then understand, but feel not so a moment thing.
I think, maybe my grandfather was a little bit of bo, can be said, then buried his ancestors bones into the feng shui treasure, this is absolutely can be a little bit of bo thing, into, Guo family can be among the rich and powerful family, their own career higher, not a big deal is to die, the great temptation drove him to take that step.
He knew that he might die, so he sent my grandfather to a distant relative's home, this relative is very far away, coincidentally, also surnamed Guo, is not to leave himself a way out.
Guo family generations are single, my great-grandfather and late in life to have a son with my grandfather, then that distant relatives in the reception of my grandfather, and later know my great-grandfather Guo Zhongyong was full of news, that time people simple, only feel entrusted by someone is to be loyal to the people, then that household honest relatives with my grandfather is also a lifelong scurrying, only later feel the wind is not so tight, an inquiry to know I was in the process of sending my grandfather out, I took in a child, also named Guo Changchen, sort of died on behalf of my grandfather.
If not, I would say that my great-grandfather Guo Zhongyong was a smart man. But I have to admit, it was a mistake to be smart. However, there is no absolute right or wrong in this world, and my grandfather became a captain because of his "good family composition" during the subsequent catastrophe.
I sometimes even think, is not this day, my grandfather Guo Zhongyong calculated? But fortune-telling is so mysterious that no one can take it seriously.
This thing, from my grandfather Guo Changchen said, that family adopted him after the family received him, his own son did not live, but he gave him to live, but also regarded as their own, and then barely put together the money to marry a daughter-in-law, the days of that called a bitter.
But at that time, everyone is bitter, do not feel anything, and, soon had my old man, when my grandfather was thinking of pointing out more children, that era, more lice do not bite, more brothers are not bullied is not it? However, the fate of the Guo family several generations, my grandfather was not able to change the fate of my father, a child, the body is not very good, and then did not want a son and a half.
Later, my grandfather because the family composition is good, but also know a few words, on the captain, and then the youth to the countryside, my grandfather is an activist, not to mention, let's just say that the defeat of the cow ghosts and snakes and gods of the matter, when the great man a sentence, the temple temples and other things to be swept away, there was a Taoist temple in the village, but also was smashed, inside the three Qing masters of the head were smashed off, the Taoist temple called "The Supreme Temple." It is said that there was a clear spring inside, no matter what disease of animals and people, drink a mouthful of water to ensure that the disease is gone. This spring is still there, but the old people say it is because of the destruction of the Four Olds when smashed the statue of the ancestor, the immortal angry away, so there is no aura.
To say that this "supreme view" in addition to that a clear spring, there is a rare, that is, in front of the view there is a cypress, pine, cypress and acacia three kinds of trees, are inviting the immortal tree, as long as it is on the years, it is said that there will be immortals above the living, supreme view of the cypress tree before, three people can not hold, which is how thick it is? At that time, this cypress tree is also rumored to be God, the four old beat down all the ghosts and snakes God, the higher-ups named, we have to cut down the cypress tree.
At that time, the supreme view of incense is also considered flourishing, the Taoist temple there is an old Taoist priest, every day with a high hat on the street, but also did not let him do what heavy work, in addition to routine fighting, is to put cattle, then smashed statues of gods burning Taoist temple, the old Taoist priest did not say anything, to the time later said to cut down the cypress, the old Taoist priest did not do it, but do not dare to say that ah, their own mud bodhisattva over the river is difficult to protect themselves, and said that no one believes.
This world, there is cause and effect, just now we talked about my grandmother illiterate, talking about my old man as a child bad health, talking about the supreme view of a spring to cure all ills, these are cause and effect, before the Four Olds, my old man's body and bones are weak, three days of headache and brain fever, and there is no money to see a doctor, so my grandmother often took my old man to drink on the view of the "divine spring! So my grandmother used to take my father to Guanshang to drink from the "divine spring", and most of the time, it really cured him.
So no matter how to break the Four Olds, my grandmother is still on this old Taoist priest is very confident, just women at that time also dare not talk too much, also because of this, my grandfather, the captain, in fact, at that time is also considered to owe this old Taoist priest favors. With the words of Taoism, is a little karma.
So this old Taoist found my grandmother, said Xiu Lian ah, you talk to your man, I also know that he can not be said, so, for our past friendship, the night either I come, or he went to the barn, some words I talk to him, listen to him or not listen to the matter, but I can not not say.
My grandmother at that time to the old Taoist priest secretly loaded two nests, said that the night must let my grandfather to go to the cowshed side of the child to find him, so my grandfather came back in the evening, my grandmother told him this matter, at that time, my grandfather also refused, he was a five good poor peasant, and a feudal remnant of the venom of the meeting, for fear of people to catch pigtails.
"You forget that the patriotic body and bones are weak, before it is not a person He Taoist to look after? You owe a favor, you say the gods are fake , but the spring water to cure the disease is what is going on? And people He real people also said, do not ask you what, just a few words to explain account, listen to what you will lose?" Grandma said.
Later my grandfather was annoyed by my grandmother could not help, wait until the middle of the night, ran to the cowshed, to the time, the real man He is still awake, through the moonlight, he laughed at my grandfather: "I knew you are a smart person, will come."
"Just the two of us, you don't talk like this, what do you want to say?" Grandpa asked, standing far away from him.
"That tree, can not be cut down, smash the statue of God to destroy the Taoist temple, the true heavenly beings will not take it into account with you, but that cypress tree, living is not a god, not so big belly, a cut will be out of the question, I know that I can not stop you, but listen to my oldest brother a word of advice, to do it is also someone else to do it, you can not get close to within three feet, after cutting back, for three days, you can not go out at night, otherwise, the gods can not save you. I know I can't stop you, but listen to my advice, if you want to do it, it's someone else who does it. He Zhenran said.
"You told me this, not afraid that I will criticize you?" Grandpa asked then.
"After cutting down the tree, you will come and beg me, don't believe me let's try." After saying this, He Zhenran began to close his eyes and rest his mind.